[BONUS]Konoha needs a good ally, and if the Sand Village could become that ally, it would undoubtedly be beneficial for Konoha's growth. However, there are no eternal allies—only eternal interests.
Even if the Sand Village becomes Konoha's trusted partner for a short period of time, they could eventually turn against them once they grow stronger or when the opportunity for a better deal arises. It could easily lead to betrayal, a stab in the back.
Faced with Konoha's rejection, Chiyo did not become angry. Instead, she paused briefly and then said, "If Konoha agrees to these terms, the Sand Village will provide additional compensation. For instance, I will personally lead a contingent to assist Konoha against the Mist Village. During the war, as long as our forces suffer no more than 50% casualties, we will not take a single step back. During this time, we will follow Konoha's command. Of course, all consumed supplies will need to be provided by Konoha."
The Third Hokage was stunned for a moment—this condition seemed beneficial to Konoha. With the support of the Sand Village, it was almost like announcing to the world that Konoha and the Sand Village were united. Moreover, having the Sand Village reinforcements would certainly reduce Konoha's war losses. Chiyo was strong, and she would not lead a group of weaklings but rather the elite forces of the Sand Village. Considering all of this, there seemed to be space for negotiation.
The Third Hokage took a deep breath and calmed down, asking, "How many forces can the Sand Village provide for Konoha?"
"One thousand!" Chiyo answered without hesitation. "I will mobilize the puppet brigade from the Sand Village, along with other elite forces, to assemble one thousand troops to support Konoha. During this time, Konoha will only need to provide all necessary supplies. As long as Konoha does not betray us, the Sand Village will be firmly on your side."
Chiyo's proposal made the Third Hokage hesitate. The Sand Village's puppet brigade was renowned across the ninja world, and Chiyo was offering them with sincerity. She wouldn't deceive Konoha on this matter. The Sand Village would be fighting essentially for free; all Konoha had to do was provide supplies, and all battle spoils would belong to Konoha.
"Two wars worth of reparations had cost Konoha greatly. Was it worth spending all that money to secure a reliable ally and one thousand elite troops?"
The Third Hokage pondered deeply. Konoha certainly wanted reinforcements, but it was also facing a serious shortage of funds. As he weighed the pros and cons, Chiyo waited silently, but the wait seemed too long—over half an hour had passed, and the Hokage was still deep in thought. Chiyo began to lose patience.
"Hokage-sama, the Sand Village's conditions are already quite favorable. Don't forget—even if the war with the Sand Village ends, Konoha's future situation will not necessarily improve," she said, attempting to push the Hokage to make a decision.
The Third Hokage frowned slightly. Nara Shikashige lowered his eyes and reminded the Hokage in a soft voice, "Hokage-sama, I believe Chiyo is referring to the Stone Village."
As the war continued, Konoha's losses were becoming increasingly significant. They had yet to recover from the previous Ninja War, and their resources were gradually being depleted. The Stone Village, which had been eyeing the Land of Fire for a long time, began to grow restless. Even scouts from the Cloud Village were frequently appearing around the borders of the Land of Fire—none of this was good news.
"The Third Hokage's expression turned grim, and the scales in his heart began to tip."
Seeing this, Chiyo smiled inwardly and subtly added more to her argument, "If Konoha agrees to the Sand Village's conditions, we can also send forces to help you monitor the military movements of the Stone Village."
The Stone Village had never gotten along with Konoha, and their relationship with the Sand Village was no better. In the past, Stone Village shinobi had often invaded the Land of Wind. A group of Sand Village shinobi was always stationed to guard against Stone Village incursions. However, the motive behind these frequent incursions into the barren Land of Wind was puzzling—there wasn't much of value to be gained. Aside from a few rare minerals, the country was mostly endless desert.
Seeing that the Hokage was increasingly inclined towards agreeing, Nara Shikashige spoke up, "Hokage-sama, perhaps we should take a break before continuing the discussion?"
The Hokage, reminded by Shikashige, realized he had been acting impulsively and nodded, "Chiyo, these terms involve the interests of both villages and cannot be decided on lightly. Why don't we adjourn for now and continue the discussion later?"
"Very well," Chiyo said, rising decisively and leaving with Ebizo, without any hesitation.
Watching Chiyo leave, the Third Hokage felt troubled. He needed to gather his thoughts; otherwise, he would be at a disadvantage in further negotiations.
"Sister, do you think Konoha will agree to our terms?" Ebizo asked.
"They will," Chiyo answered confidently. "After the Second Ninja War, the village suffered great losses, and Konoha is in no better shape. Not long after the end of that war, they were plunged into another one with the Mist Village. They haven't had time to recover, and even the strongest foundation will be worn away eventually. The longer the Mist Village persists, the more Konoha will lose, and with the Stone Village growing restless, Konoha's situation will only get worse. If either the Stone Village or Cloud Village declares war on Konoha, they will be surrounded on all sides. Stone Village's increasing activity is proof that they are short on time to prepare."
Chiyo's analysis left no room for doubt. "I hope everything goes smoothly," Ebizo replied.
While Chiyo and Ebizo felt confident, the mood in Konoha was much more somber. The Third Hokage was torn, and Nara Shikashige was just as uneasy. He knew the Hokage was already leaning towards agreeing to Chiyo's conditions.
"Hokage-sama, if we agree to these terms, it might lead to some negative consequences," Shikashige warned. "The Sand Village came to negotiate because they were forced to. If we gain nothing from this, how are the villagers and our shinobi supposed to accept that?"
The Third Hokage gazed up at the overcast sky and sighed, "I understand, Shikashige. The current situation of Konoha is not good. The timing between the Second and Third Ninja Wars was too close, and Konoha hasn't recovered from its weakened state."
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Next Bonus: 600
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